Abrading apparatus



United States 2,915,852 Patented Dec. 8, 1959 ABRADING APPARATUS Samuel Wabeke, Don, Mich.

Application December 11, 1957, Serial No. 702,04?

7 Claims. (Cl. 517) This invention relates to improved means and apparatus for abrading or finishing the surface of work pieces by means of passing the work piece through a slurry of abrading material.

Generally, abrading apparatus which finishes the surfaces of Work pieces by passing the work piece through the slurry of abrading material are quite old. This equipment, however, has been quite cumbersome, unwieldy, and complicated. Therefore, it has been quite expensive equipment which also has not been completely satisfactory. One disadvantage is the time consumed in passing the work pieces through the abrading material. Many attempts have been made to reduce this time but none of them have been completely satisfactory.

An object of this invention is to provide an abrading or finishing apparatus which is simple in construction, easy 'to operate, andfinish work pieces in considerably reduced time. 'Another object of this invention is to pro vide an abrading or finishing apparatus which carries the work pieces through the abrasive material in such a manner as to produce a better finished surface in less time.

Still another object of this invention is to provide such apparatus which gives a dual rotatable movement to the work piece by means of a simple structure which includes only one motive power means. A

Other objects of this invention will become obvious upon reading the'following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a sideel'ev'ational view of the apparatus having portions sectioned to illustrate the details thereof.

Fig. 2' is'a side elevational view of one work piece holder as seen looking in'the direction indicated by the arrows IIII of Big. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along the plane II III I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a'fragmentary, oblique view of one of the work piece holders.

Fig. 5 is a 'sid'eelevational view of the support bracket for the work piece holder.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane IVIV of Fig. 5'.

Fig. 7 is'a side elevational view of one of the work piece holders detached fromthe apparatus.

Fig. 8 'isfa cross -'sectional view taken along the plane VIII'VIII of'FigZ '7. I

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 designatesthe overall abrading-apparatu's which includes the support frame 19, the tank assembly 20, carrier asserribly30, holder 4%, motor drivingmechanism 60, and the motion translating mechanism 70.

The support frame 10 includes a'single support post 11 supported vertically by the base 12. At the top end of'the support post'l'l' are the platforms 13 and 1'4supporting" the "motor "driving mechanism 60. These corn- "po'nents' are preferably all constructed of heavy steel or iron which'provides a "rigid and stable support for the apparatus.

The tank assembly 20 includes the circular ring like tank 21 slidably mounted for vertical movement on the support post 11 by the hub 22. intermediate the hub 22 and the tank 21 are housings 23 extending upwardly and receiving the cylinders 25 secured at the bottom ends to the base 12. The, cylinders 25 have the actuating piston rods 26 extending from their top end and bearing against the bottom of the housing portion 23. These rods lift the tank when fluid is injected into the cylinders by Way of conduits 27. Between the housings 23 and the tank are Water jackets 24 for cooling the 'abrading compound in the tank.

This construction of the tank assembly 20 permits the tank 21 to beIslidably actuated upwardly and downwardly on the vertical support post 11. In the downward position, as shown, work pieces can be attached to the accessible holder assemblies 40. In the upward position, the holder assemblies extend into the tank positioning the work pieces in the slurry contained in the tank. Thus, in its operative abrading position, the tank 21 is moved upwardly while in its non-operative position the tank is moved down in the position shown by Fig. 1.

The carrier assembly 30 for rotating the holders 40 in a circular path around the support post 11 includes acircular carrier plate 31 supported .by the hub member 32. This hub member 32 is rotatably mounted on the post by the 4 thrust bearings 33. Y The two lower thrust bearings 33:.bear against the shoulder15lof-the support post 11 preventing the hub from sliding downwardly. This establishes a constant vertical position of the carrierassembly. -A split nut 34. is threadedly secured on the post 11 for taking up any loose motio-nor slack in the bearings.

The holders 40 are mounted on theperipheral edges of the carrier plate 31 by a support member 35 (Figs. 5 and 6'). This support member has a flange 36 extending underneath the carrier plate and secured thereto by bolts. It has an upstanding arcuate plate 37 with a boss 3% extending from its face in a radial direction away from the periphery of the carrier plate.v The support plates 37 each have the openings 39 providing for securing the holder 4% to it.

This construction of the carrier assembly 30 rotates the carrier plate 31 on the support post 11 thus carrying the holder assembly 40 on a given path determined by the shape of the carrier plate 31. The carrier preferably is circular and corresponds to size and shape of the tank 21 so that when rotated the workpieces held by the holders All are carried through the slurry in the tank.

The construction of the holders are shown in better detail by Figs. 4, 7 and 8. This holder assembly includes the spindle housing 41 which has a cylindrical portion 42 and a support plate portion 43 on one side of the cylinder 42. The cylindrical portion 42 has a bore for receivingthe spindle 44 rotatably supported by the bearings 45 and 4.6 at the top and bottom of the cylinder respectively. A flange -47'extends upwardly (as shown) at one side of the cylinder on which flange the guide plate 48 is mounted. The flange 47 and plate 48 provides a guide track for'the rack of the motion translating mechanism as will be described hereinafter.

The spindle 44 is a shaft having at one end a socket 52 receiving a fixture shaft 58 to which a work piece 89 is attached. At the other end is a gear 53 meshing with the rack '75 of the motion translating mechanism.

The plate portion 43 of the spindle housing 41 has a a V 3 openings 39 and 49 thus securely fastening the support on the carrier plate 31. This entire positioning structure of the holder assembly and its advantages will be described in more detail under Operation.

The motor driving mechanism 60, includes the motor 61 which is coupled to the gear reducer 62. The motor is mounted on the platform 13 and gear reducer on platform 14. The arrangement is such that theweight of the motor and gear reducer are balanced about the center axis of the support post 11. The gear reducer has a driving shaft 63 extending downwardly through the platform 14. On the end of the driving shaft 63 is a driving gear 64 meshing with the gear 65 secured to carrier plate 31 and rotatably'mounted on the support post 11.

The gear 65 is secured to the carrier plate 31 by the ring 66. Thusthehub member 32 and thrust bearings 33 provide the rotatable support for both the carrier plate rier plate 31 by the bolts 39. The rod 77 of the motion translating mechanism 70 is inserted through the openings 78 of the ring from the inside. This positions the cam follower inside the ring 66 with the end of the rod 31 and gear 65. By this construction rotation of the gear 65 by means of the driving gear 64 rotates the carrier plate 31 carrying the work piece holder in a circular path in' tank 21. V p

The motion translating mechanism 70 for rotating the work piece spindle 44 is located between the gear 65 and the carrier plate 31. This motion translating mechanism includes the cam disc 71 keyed to the post 11 by the key 72. The disc 71 is eccentrically mounted on the post 2 is stationary with post 11 and .free from the gear 65,

ring66 and carrier plate 31 permitting those elements to b erotated in relation to it. A cam follower 74 rides the groove 3. This camfollower is connected to a rack 75 engaging the gear 49 of the spindle 44, this connection being a universal type connection including the rod 77 and rack 75 both having ball ends 76, connected together by the ball joint connector element 78. This construction permits the rack 75 to rotate on its longitudinal axis. Thus when the holder 40 is tilted or. tipped the proper engagement of the rack 75 with the gear 49 is effected. Each rod 77 is slidably and reciprocally received by an opening 78 in the ring 66. This permits the rack 75 to reciprocate as the cam follower 74 rides on the cam surfaces groove 3. It should be understood that I have described only one of the motion translating mechanisms; Separate translating mechanisms are provided for each of the holders. The cam element 71is commonto all of them and provides the groove 73 which all the cam. fol,- lowers 74 of the translating mechanisms ride. 7

extending outside toward the periphery of the carrier plates 31. The cam element 71 is then placed over the post 11 and keyed to the post by the key 72. This cam element rests on the split ring 34 which spaces the cam element from the carrier plate preventing any interference of its rotation. In arranging the cam element the camfollowers 74 of each of the transplanting mechanisms 70 are inserted in the grooves 73. The ring gear 65 is then inserted over the post 11 and secured to the ring 66 by the bolts 67. V

Having assembled the collar 16 and the platforms 13 and 14, together, the collar 16 is placed on top of the post 11 and is secured in place by the suitable means such as a key. I prefer that .the key .72 extend the entire length of the collar 16 and the cam element 71 keying them directly to thepost 11 and preventing rotation of,

these elements. V

The next assembly step can be either the assembly of the motor driving mechanism or the installation of the holder assembly 40. The motor driving mechanism is 25.

assembled by bolting the motor by any means not shown to the platform 13 and the gearreducer 62 to the platform 14. r This is done in a mannerrso that the driving shaft 63 extends through the platform 14. The driving gear 64 is then installed on thevend of the shaft 63 so as to engage the ring' gear 65. This completes the assembly of the motor driving mechanism so that the motor will rotate the carrier assembly. 30 and reciprocate the A cam follower rod 37.

The rack '75 and gear 53 are proportioned in a mandle 44 approximately 360 degrees in one direction; and r as it is pulled inwardly it'rotates the spindle 44 approximately another 360 degrees in the oppositedirection.

I g V 7 Assembly The manufactureand assembly of this abrading and finishing apparatus is quite simple. cated all the parts,the post 11 is secured to the base 12 andas'et upright in the position shown" in Fig. 1. The cylinders 25 are' attached to the base and then the tank and hub assembly 20 is inserted" over the post 11. In the down position the cylinders 25 are slidably received by the cylindrical housings 23 located between the hub 22 and the tank 21. The tank assembly is then complete. The carrier assembly 30 is made by inserting the hub 7 'member Z'With the bearing in place on the top end of the post 11'. The lower bearings 33 rest on the shoulm any similar sequence, the abrader'or finishing apparatus ders 115 of the post maintaining the position of the hub at th'edesired vertical height as shown in Fig. 1. The split Quilt-34 is then installed and adjusted for taking up After having fabri- 7 the universal connection shown. 'of the rack androd77 are received by the balljjoint ring 66 is installednnd siecu red to the 7 The holder assemblies are installed by first seeming the support members 35 at spaced points to the peripherial edge of the carrier plates 31 by any suitable means such as bolts. The bolts'extend through the openings 36 and corresponding openings in the plate 31. When thus installed, each support plate 37 is in a vertical position with the boss 38 extending radially outwardly. The housing assembly is then secured to the support plate by arranging the plate portion 43 in face to face relationship with the support plate 37. The boss 38 is received by the opening 51 in such a manner that the plate 43 and spindle housing 41 can be rotated and tipped in any direction oblique to the travel path of the housing, Having established the desired tilted position by aligning. selected openings 39 and 49. bolts 50 are installed securely'establishing this position for the holder. The tilted position can be varied byselecting any one of a number of various alignment combinations of openings 39 and 49.' The preferred angle of tilt is 10 to ,35 degrees.

The spindle 44 is installed in thehousing 41 either before or after the attachment of the housing through the carrier plate. This is easily accomplished by inserting the spindle from thetop end after properly installing the bearings. This positions theg'ear49 .on the top surface of the cylindrical housing 41 in position for engagement by therack 45 which is later installed. -The end of the spindle is then ready for receivingthe work piece.

The rack 75 is attached to the cam follower rod 77 by The two. ball ends 76 connector element78; This connection permits the rack 75 to be rotated about its longitudinal axis for properly engaging the gear 53 of :thetilted'holder assembly 40. The rack 75 is held in place by the guide plate 48 (Figs.

4 and secured 'to the upstanding flange 47.

Having followed the above steps 'inthe order given or is ready for use after connecting the 'motor to a source of electricity and ithe:hydraulic; conduits 27 of the hyhe tank 21."

.draulic cylinder to 'a proper-source ofhydraulic pressure p PQ' 'Q." Theloper'ationlof. this .abrader is. sijmtiie; Q First, a work .pi'eic'e, such. as a horn -rim.is.secured-to each of the fixture shafts .58 of the spindle44. ,Thenlth e hydraulic cylinders 25 are actuated. causing pistonv rods 26: to raisethe tank 21. into upward position wherethe workpieces extend into anabrasive material orfslurrylqcated in the tank. The .motor is actuated causing the driving shaft .63 to rotate and .drive the carrier plate 3.1 through the ring gear64. ...As the carrierplate 3.1 .rotates, it carries the work pieces in a circular direction inside the ring tank. Further, as the, carrier. plate 31 .rotates'the ring '66 rotates carrying with itthe follower rods 7,7. causing .the cam followers 74 to ride in the groove'7 3 which is held stationary to the post 11 by the key .72. {Since the groove or cam gear 49 rotates the spindle-36 0 degrees in one direction and then 360 degrees in the other direction. Thus the work piece undergoes .a dualrotativeaction. .It.rotates in the ringtank about the post 11 and also rotates about the axis of the spindle 44.

The 'work piece holders 40 are held in a tilted or tipped position preferably in the direction of the travel of the holder and at an oblique anglethereto, whereby it plows its way through the abrading material. This tilting of the work piece has a tremendous effect of reducing the time required to finish the workpiece. plows its way through the abrading material the so-called bottom face is not onlysubjected to the abrading action from the rotation of the spindle hut also is subjected to abrading action causedby the plowing of the work piece through the abrading material. markably decreases the time required for finishing the article.

The motor 61 can be provided with a two-way drive in either rotative direction which aids in shortening the time required to finish the entire article. The reason for this is that in one direction one face plows through the material and is readily finished and when the direction is changed the other face is subjected to the abrasive action of the material. Normally only one face of an article such as a horn rim is required to be finished to a high degree. Therefore, the two-directional rotation is not generally required.

From the above description it should become obvious that I have produced and constructed a very simple abrading apparatus constructed of a minimum number of parts which are driven by only a single motor. The fabrication, assembly and operation of the apparatus is quite simple. The tilting feature of the holder produces an apparatus which more readily finishes the article or Work piece and thus has greater production.

Having described my invention, it should become obvious that although I have shown and described a preferred form, alterations and modifications of it are possible within the broadest aspect. Therefore, this invention should be limited only as set forth by the language of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An abrading machine comprising: a vertically upstanding support means; a work holder carrier rotatably mounted horizontally on said support means; a work holder rotatably mounted on and depending from said holder support means at a distance from the axis of rotation of said carrier; a single motor; a motion translating means operatively connecting said carrier and said Work holder to said motor means for rotating the carrier and holder whereby a work piece supported by said holder is rotated about two axes, one being the axis of rotation of said holder support and the other the axis of rotation of the holder; 21 first plate mounted vertically on said carrier; a second plate attached to said holder; and means for As the work piece This 'new concept re-- 6 attachingsaid plates together-in face to face relationship in several different positions so that the holder can be tipped in the'dir'ection of and oblique to the travel path of said holder; Y Y

2. An abrading machine comprising: a vertically upstanding support means; a work holder carrier rotatably mounted horizontally on said support means; a work holder rotatably mounted onand depending from said holder support means at a distance from the axis of rotation of 'saidcarrier; a single motor; and motion translating means operatively connecting both said carrier and said work holder to said motor-means for simultaneouslyrotating the carrier and holder whereby a work piece supported by said holder is simultaneously rotated about two axis, one being the axis of rotation of said holder support and the other the axis of rotation of the holder; said motiontranslating means comprising first cam means rotatable with said holder carrier, second.

holder rotatably mounted on and depending from said "holder support means at a distance from the axis of rotation of said carrier; a single'motor; and motion translating means operatively connecting both said carrier and said Work holder to said motor means for simultaneously rotating the carrier and holder-whereby -a Work piece'supported by said holder -is simultaneously rotated about two axes, one being the axis of rotation-of'said holder support and the other the axis of rotation of the holder; said motion translating means comprising cam follower means rotatable with said holder carrier, cam element means stationary on said support means, said cam follower means riding on said cam element means and actuated thereby; and motion transmitting means connected between said work piece holder and said cam follower means for rotating said holder in response to the actuation of said cam follower means.

4. An abrading machine comprising: a vertically upstanding support means; a Work holder carrier rotatably mounted horizontally on said support means; a work holder rotatably mounted on and depending from said holder support means at a distance from the axis of rotation of said carrier; a single motor; and motion translating means operatively connecting both said carrier and said work holder to said motor means for simultaneously rotating the carrier and holder whereby a work piece supported by said holder is simultaneously rotated about two axis, one being the axis of rotation of said holder support and the other axis of rotation of the holder; said motion translating means comprising a cam element having a circular cam surface eccentric With the rotatable axis of said holder carrier, a cam follower riding on said surface, and motion transmitting means connected between said work piece holder and said cam follower for rotating said holder in response to the actuation of said cam follower.

5. An abrading machine comprising: a vertically upstanding support means; a work holder carrier rotatably mounted horizontally on said support means; a work holder rotatably mounted on and depending from .said holder support means at a distance from the axis of rotation of said carrier a single motor; and motion translating means operatively connecting both said carrier and said work holder to said motor means simultaneously rotating the carrier and holder whereby a Work piece supported by said holder is simultaneously rotated about two axis, one being the axis of rotation of said holder support andthe other axis of rotation of the 'holder rotatably mounted on and depending from said holder support means at a distance from the axis of m tation of said carrier; a single motor; and motion translating means operatively connecting both said carrier and said work holder to'said motor means simultaneously rotating the carrier and holder whereby a work piece supported by said holder is simultaneously rotated'about two axes, one being the axis of rotation of said holder support and the other 'the axis of rotation of the holder; said motion translating means comprising a gear rotatably mounted in vertically spaced relationship 'from said carrier; a ring between said carrier and gear connecting them together; said motor means having a gear means meshing with said gear; and T0- tating the gear, carrier and ring; a cam element stationarily mounted on said supporttmeans between said gear and'carrier, said cam element having a cam surface eccentric with the rotatable axis of said carrier and gear; a'cam follower riding on'cam surface; a rack means secured to' said cam follower, reciprocally extending.

through saidring, and operatively connected to said rotatable holder for-rotating the same.

7, An abrading machine comprising: a vertically upstanding support means; a work holder carrier rotatably mounted horizontally on said support means; a work holder rotatably mounted on and depending from said i holder support means at a distance from the axis of r0- tation of said carrierga single motor; and motion translatlng m eans operatively connecting both said carrier :5 and said work holder to said motor means simultaneously rotating the carrier and holder whereby awork piece supported by said holder is simultaneously rotatedt Laboutgtwq axis, one" being the' axis of rotation of said holder support and the other the'axis of rotationr of 0 the holder; .Said motion translating means comprising a gear rotatably mounted in vertically spaced relationship from said carrier; a ring between said carrier and gear connecting them together; said motor means having a lgear means meshing with said gear and rotating the 5, gear, carrier and ring; a cam element stationarily mounted on said support means between said gear and carrier, said cam element having a scam surface eccentric with the rotatably axisof said carrier and gear; a cam follower riding on cam surfacej a rack means secured 0 to said cam follower, reciprocally extending through said ring, and operatively connected to said rotatable holder for rotating the same; a first plate mounted vertically on said carrier; a second plate attached to said ,holder; and means for attaching said plates together in 5 face to face relationship'in several different positions so that the holder can be tipped in the direction of and oblique to the travel path of said holder. i I

References Cited in the file of this patent it 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS t 2,749,669 Sleeper June 12, 1956 i FOREIGN PATENTS p 5 n 888,374 Germany Aug. 31, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CURRECTION Patent N00 2,915,852 December 8 1959 Samuel Wabeke It is hereb$ certified that error appears in the -printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3 line 45 after Separate insert motion column 4L line 11,, for transplanting read translating Signed and sealed this 6th day of September 1960,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. I SWIDER ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

